The coming college football schedule will look like no other in recent times, if the season is played.
In the latest deviation from college football tradition, this year’s Michigan-Ohio State game has been scheduled for October 24 — the first time the rivalry has taken place outside of November since 1933.
The new date was announced Wednesday as part of the Big Ten schedule release. As previously announced, the league plans to play a 10-game schedule against only conference opponents. Play would begin “as early as” Labor Day weekend, though the league has built in two open dates — including on Thanksgiving weekend — in case the schedule needs to be pushed back.
The Big Ten Championship is tentatively scheduled for its originally planned date of December 5, but could be rescheduled for as late as December 19.
The Big Ten is just the latest league to announce a revised schedule and format for 2020. The SEC announced last week that it plans to play a 10-game, conference-only schedule starting September 26, with the SEC Championship Game on December 19.
The Pac-12 also announced last week a September 26 start for its conference-only football schedule, with its conference title game on December 18 or 19.
On Monday, the Big 12 announced that it plans to begin conference play in mid-late September, with its title game scheduled for December 12 or 19. Unlike the other conferences, the Big 12 will allow its teams to play one non-conference game, meaning play could still begin in early September — or even August.
Outside of the Big Ten, only the ACC is planning to begin conference play in early September.
With a number of conference championship games pushed back, the final College Football Playoff rankings has been pushed back from December 6 to December 20.
Beyond the “power five,” new independent UConn has canceled its football season altogether.
[News from Big Ten 8.5, SEC 7.30, Pac-12 7.31, Big 12 8.3, ESPN.com 8.5, ESPN.com 8.5]
